Just read something about saturation diving pay that made me stop and think

I was looking at some old industry reports online, and I found a stat from a 2022 survey. It said the average annual income for a saturation diver in the Gulf of Mexico was around $120,000. That's a good living, sure, but for the risk and time away, I guess I expected it to be higher. It really put the whole 'hazard pay' thing into a new light for me. I always heard the stories about the big money, but seeing a real number changed my view. Has anyone else seen more recent figures that tell a different story?

3 comments

3 Comments

reese_bell24d ago

Honestly, that still sounds like a ton of money to me. I get the job is risky, but clearing 180k? That's life changing cash for most people. The danger feels a bit overblown when you look at the actual paycheck.

noah_barnes5d ago

Yeah, 180k is life changing money until you remember it's life changing because it might actually change your life, like ending it. That paycheck buys a lot of therapy after your third near-miss with a crane swing or watching a pressure valve fail. It's hazard pay, not a bonus for working weekends.

fionas3924d ago

That 2022 number is probably just base pay. My buddy in the Gulf said his total comp with bonuses and per diems cleared 180k last year. The real money is in the extras they don't always list in those surveys.